A method of preparing a catalyst support comprising contacting an acid-soluble titanium-containing compound with an acid to form a first mixture; contacting the first mixture with an alkali metal silicate to form a hydrogel which has a silica content of from about 18 wt. % to about 35 wt. % based on the total weight of the hydrogel; contacting the hydrogel with an alkaline solution to form an aged hydrogel; washing the aged hydrogel to form a washed hydrogel; and drying the washed hydrogel to produce a titanium-containing-silica support wherein the support has a pore volume equal to or greater than about 1.4 cm.sup.3/g.

A method of preparing a catalyst support comprising contacting an acid-soluble titanium-containing compound with an acid to form a first mixture; contacting the first mixture with an alkali metal silicate to form a hydrogel which has a silica content of from about 18 wt. % to about 35 wt. % based on the total weight of the hydrogel; contacting the hydrogel with an alkaline solution to form an aged hydrogel; washing the aged hydrogel to form a washed hydrogel; and drying the washed hydrogel to produce a titanium-containing-silica support wherein the support has a pore volume equal to or greater than about 1.4 cm.sup.3/g.

A method of preparing a catalyst support comprising contacting an acid-soluble titanium-containing compound with an acid to form a first mixture; contacting the first mixture with an alkali metal silicate to form a hydrogel which has a silica content of from about 18 wt. % to about 35 wt. % based on the total weight of the hydrogel; contacting the hydrogel with an alkaline solution to form an aged hydrogel; washing the aged hydrogel to form a washed hydrogel; and drying the washed hydrogel to produce a titanium-containing-silica support wherein the support has a pore volume equal to or greater than about 1.4 cm.sup.3/g.

A method of preparing a catalyst comprising a) contacting a non-aqueous solvent, a carboxylic acid, and a chromium-containing compound to form an acidic mixture; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound with the acidic mixture to form a titanium treatment solution; c) contacting a pre-formed silica-support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water with the titanium treatment solution to form a pre-catalyst; and d) thermally treating the pre-catalyst to form the catalyst. A method of preparing a catalyst comprising a) contacting a non-aqueous solvent and a carboxylic acid to form an acidic mixture; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound with the acidic mixture to form a titanium treatment solution; c) contacting a pre-formed chrominated silica-support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water with the titanium treatment solution to form a pre-catalyst; and d) thermally treating the pre-catalyst to form the catalyst.

A method of preparing a catalyst comprising a) contacting a non-aqueous solvent, a carboxylic acid, and a chromium-containing compound to form an acidic mixture; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound with the acidic mixture to form a titanium treatment solution; c) contacting a pre-formed silica-support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water with the titanium treatment solution to form a pre-catalyst; and d) thermally treating the pre-catalyst to form the catalyst. A method of preparing a catalyst comprising a) contacting a non-aqueous solvent and a carboxylic acid to form an acidic mixture; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound with the acidic mixture to form a titanium treatment solution; c) contacting a pre-formed chrominated silica-support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water with the titanium treatment solution to form a pre-catalyst; and d) thermally treating the pre-catalyst to form the catalyst.

A hydrogel comprising water, and a plurality of titanium-silica nanoparticle agglomerates, wherein each titanium-silica nanoparticle agglomerate is an agglomeration of titanium-silica nanoparticles, the agglomerates having an average titanium loading designated x with a coefficient of variation for the average titanium loading of less than about 1.0, wherein a silica content of the hydrogel is of from about 10 wt. % to about 35 wt. % based on a total weight of the hydrogel.

A hydrogel comprising water, and a plurality of titanium-silica nanoparticle agglomerates, wherein each titanium-silica nanoparticle agglomerate is an agglomeration of titanium-silica nanoparticles, the agglomerates having an average titanium loading designated x with a coefficient of variation for the average titanium loading of less than about 1.0, wherein a silica content of the hydrogel is of from about 10 wt. % to about 35 wt. % based on a total weight of the hydrogel.

A partial oxidative coupling catalyst has a structure in which a component represented by M.sub.2ZrO.sub.3 is supported on a support, where M represents an alkali metal.

A partial oxidative coupling catalyst has a structure in which a component represented by M.sub.2ZrO.sub.3 is supported on a support, where M represents an alkali metal.

A hydrogel comprising water, and a plurality of titanium-silica-chromium nanoparticle agglomerates, wherein each titanium-silica-chromium nanoparticle agglomerate is an agglomeration of titanium-silica-chromium nanoparticles, the agglomerates having an average titanium penetration depth designated x with a coefficient of variation for the average titanium penetration depth of less than about 1.0 wherein a silica content of the hydrogel is of from about 10 wt. % to about 35 wt. % based on a total weight of the hydrogel.